Making a Computer Virus is Not Against the Law - Surya Aezowie

Surya Aezowie, young Indian Cyber Security Expert shares his Cyber Security story in this interview with NELOC News

NELOC News: Can we meet you sir?

Guest: I am an Indian cyber security expert, trainer, author, mentalist and 24 year old entrepreneur. I am the founder and CEO of Aezowie Infotech Services Private Limited, a company that provides network security, application development and designing services to corporations. At the age of 16, I developed my first computer software for my school, later I was failed in 12th boards but turned out to be successful.
 

NELOC News: How does I.T and Cyber security define entrepreneurship for you?

Guest: Right now, the cyber security related business is growing drastically and cyber entrepreneurship is a new source of economic growth and development. I love Cyber security and from childhood I wanted to be like Steve Jobs. He is my motivation. So Cyber Security & Entrepreneurship is a perfect combination for me.
 

NELOC News: How did your journey into Cyber Security begin?

Guest: Most individuals go straight out of college into the cybersecurity field with degrees in computer and information science or other technical degree programs. But my journey began when I developed my first computer software during my school days in class 11th. The next year, I failed in my class 12th Board Exams but that did not deter me as I was buoyed by the success of my software. It’s a long story but in the end I turned out to be a successful owner of my own company.

NELOC News: Recently, Twitter was hacked and accounts of prominent persons were compromised. How does this affect Cyber security for other users?

Guest: These kind of incidents occur not because of account hacking but due to user hacking. In our field, we call it social engineering. See, humans are the weakest point in the cyber world. In this recent case the hackers did not use their access to target any major institutions or infrastructure — only asking for Bitcoin, instead. But the attack concerned security experts because it suggested the hackers could easily have caused far more havoc.

 

NNI: In leading an I.T Company, what is leadership to you? Is leadership a mix of different skills?

Guest: For me leadership means understanding, motivating and organizing other people to reach a shared goal. Whether you are in a management position or leading a project, leadership skills require you to motivate others, often on schedule, to complete a series of tasks. Leadership is not just one skill but a combination of several different abilities that work together.

NNI: In what ways have you managed leadership positions with other duties?

Guest: I believe everything is connected and there is no professional or personal work/thing. I just enjoy what I am doing and due to this mindset, things become easier for me.

NNI: Are there any laws determining the legality of Computer Viruses? To what extent are these Viruses legal?

Guest: Well distributing a virus to others is against the Law. The Computer Misuse Act is the law which covers this area. In the United States also, the distribution of a virus that affects computers used by government or by financial institutions is a federal crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. But making a computer virus isn't against the law. However, if that virus spreads deliberately or by mistake to other computers, you have breached the law and you could be held liable for any damages it causes.

NELOC News: We are facing the reality of a completely digital world. Does this mean an increased breach in data security? To what extent is this breach and how can it be curbed?

Guest: Over the last few years we have seen a drastic change in how individuals and businesses use technology to achieve their objectives. According to a global survey by the Ponemon Institute and IBM Security, the average probability that an organization will experience a data breach has increased to 27.7 percent compared with last year's 25.6 percent. With digital transformation, everything became easier, more accessible and less time consuming but for sure probability of data breach is also increasing with it. I think the best weapon to fight with this is the knowledge and awareness.
 

NELOC News: In your opinion, can we achieve a fully cyber secured world?

Guest: Frankly speaking, it is impossible because the most secure system is the one that is never built. So basically everything is hackable, but it’s depends on how much time, money and resources someone is ready to invest to do so. If you really wanted to make your data 100% safe, you would have to back it up to a hard disk, disconnect it from any computer, put it in a safe, and then bury the safe in an unknown place. Only then could you be rest assured that the information was safe from hackers.

NNI: How do national (India and any other countries) and international legislations affect cyber security?

Guest: Most nation’s cyber laws are pretty strong whether you talk about India or any other county but the problem is that our legal system and police force don’t know much about how to deal with cyber criminals. So firstly our governments need to ensure that these people will be well educated about cyber security and related issues. And yes strong international legislations are very much required because in the cyber world there are no boundaries between nations. Within this global cyber security culture, enhancing security and ensuring data protection and privacy while enhancing access and commerce is important.

Read also: Biography of Actress Kehinde Bankole

 

NNI: What is your advice to individuals and youths especially who have interests in cyber security and the IT space?

Guest: I think with an ever-expanding scope, cybersecurity presents the ultimate potential for growth, both in your career path and for opportunities to learn. Practically, cyber security is the field of unlimited growth but to become an expert in this field you need to understand that it is not the certifications or college degree that makes you an expert. Any individual who wants to become a good cybersecurity professional must focus to understand the inner mechanism of technologies and organizations as much as possible. Remember experts persevere and they focus. Security experts are no different.

Biography of Farooq Faq Oreagba

Farooq FAQ Oreagba, popularly called the King of Steeze following his stint at the 2024 Olude Oba Festival. He is an entrepreneur 

Survivor

Farooq Oreagba is active on social media. You can connect with him via his official handles on Facebook, Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vaiper66), TikTok and X.

Biography of Kelvin Classic (Celebrity Barber)

Kelvin Classic is a celebrity barber and content creator who came to limelight following his ambition to cut Davido's hair

 Celebrity barber/Content creator + Follow Posts About Videos Photos Details Profile Digital creator Rising creator Studied at University of Abuja Went to Lightway Academy Abuja Lives in Abuja, Nigeria From Uromi See Kelvin's About Info

Studied at University of Abuja

A

Went to Lightway Academy Abuja

 

Kelvin Classic is active on social media. You can connect with him via his official handles on FAcebook, Instagram, TikTok and X 

Biography of Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed

Born on

Yusuf Datti is the running mate of the Labour Party Presidential candidate- Peter Obi.

When is his full name and age?

His full name is Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, born on July 7, 1969. He is 53 years as at July, 2022.

Where is Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed from?

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed was born to the family of Baba-Ahmed in Zaria in 1969. He is among the thirty-three children of his father. Baba Ahmed was an Arab cattle-trader from modern-day Mauritania who later became a notable scholar and expert on Islamic jurisprudence.

His Education

He obtained his BSc and MSc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri in Borno State, North-east Nigeria. He worked in the security, Printing and Minting industries in Lagos, before going fully into Politics.

In 2006, while as a Federal representative, he earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy when he completed his PhD studies at the University of Westminster.

An activist, Baba-Ahmed was elected in April 2003 to the Federal House of Representatives for the Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State. He ran on the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) platform.

Baba-Ahmed was popular for his principled activism. During the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he was among lawmakers who opposed  Obasanjo run for a third term.

In May 2006, he said he would not run for re-election unless action was taken to investigate allegations that members had been bribed to support the constitutional changes needed for a third term presidency. In 2007, he took the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over conduct of past elections. He was known for speaking out against corruption.

Read: Biography of Peter Obi

Yusuf also encourage Journalists to be fearless. Speaking at an Islamic media forum, in Abuja, September 2008, Baba-Ahmed called on journalists to fearlessly submit accurate reports. He said that corruption in the Country is endemic, and special prayers and determination from all stakeholders are needed to correct the situation. Baba-Ahmed became the Managing Director of Baze Research and Data Services Ltd.

Baba-Ahmed is also the founder and Pro–Chancellor of Blaze University, an independent university located in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria which opened in April 2011. Citing his studies abroad as a benchmark, he said that the Nigerian educational system was "appalling" and that this inspired him to start Baze University.

In April 2011 , Baba-Ahmed polled 366,398 votes to defeat former governor of Kaduna State and former factional National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Yusuf is a member of the Labour Party, also the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Party alongside the Presidential Candidate - Peter Gregory Obi in 2023 general election

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is active on social media. You can connect with him via his official handles on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

Biography of Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF President

As the current Chairman of Club Chairmen (of football clubs), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau serves on the current NFF Executive Board. He is also the NFF Safety Committee Chair. 

The launch of his declaration for Nigerian football’s top job was somewhat unusual. Rather than take to a fancy Lagos or Abuja hotel for a slick, modern, graphics and video driven presentation event, Gusau declared his bid to be NFF President to local football stakeholders in his native state, Zamfara.

This is widely seen as an effort to underline his grassroots credentials - one of his key strengths. And in Zamfara football, Gusau is the one who ‘holds’ the ground that the grass grows on. His influence is built on personal relationships he has developed over the many years of his journey in the world of football. 

Gusau is a long-serving and high-ranking member of the ‘inner caucus’ of Nigerian football administration. He is also a member of the crucial Confederation of African Football (CAF) Organising Committee of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) - giving him the international football administrative (and political) experience and contacts any serious contender needs. 

On the flip side, he is a second strong northern contender - and there’s some danger of the block’s votes being split between him and Shehu Dikko - who certainly has more commercial experience; though Shehu later stepped down for him at the rerun election and emerged Victoriously.

Gusau has also been very publicly committed to implementing the ‘10-year Football Development Master Plan’ (FDMP) recently published by the Federal Government, if elected. Most informed observers, however, are not so sure about the depth of his commitment, or ability to deliver the FDMP - the government’s roadmap for Nigerian football, which envisages a more commercially focused, and private sector supported model for Nigerian professional football. 

Read: Biography of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

In other words, less government money; more emphasis on developing football’s own ‘IGR’ and values chain; and a greater focus on developing its economic, social and (real world) development potentials.

Gusau is generally regarded to be more of a conservative or a ‘politician’ in his antecedents and approach to football administration. He is certainly not viewed as an innovator, who will champion the drive for the continually increasing private sector partnership and brand building of the Nigerian game across board that the FDMP is the roadmap towards.

He is thought by some in the know as perhaps more suited to being a ‘behind the scenes’ stabiliser, rather than someone who will spearhead the NFF’s (and Nigerian football’s) transformation - per the FDMP, and desired by most football loving Nigerians - into an organisation more in tune with the 21st Century. As such, he could be perceived as a potential round peg trying to fit into a square hole, should he get the job.

Nigerians are hopeful that the new NFF President will work towards reviving the Sporting activities in the Country. 

Biography of Iyinoluwa Aboyeji

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji co-founded Andela at the age of 23 n 2014 and Flutterwave at the age of 23 in 2016. Both startups are worth over $1Billion (unicorns)

How to Vote as Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria

 

One of the most important rights of Nigerian citizens is the franchise—the right to vote. Originally under the constitution, citizens who are 18years old and above cannot be denied the right to vote on the basis of race, religion, sex, disability, or sexual orientation. In every state of the federation, citizens must register to vote, and laws regarding the registration process is the same all over Nigeria.

In 2018, following the immense impact of organisations in Nigeria such as the Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) : Disability Votes Matter, a major feat was achieved with regards to inclusion in Nigerian democracy – for the first time ever, voters with visual impairments were allowed to vote unassisted, thanks to newly developed braille ballot guide.

However, despite the impact mentioned above, most people with disabilities in nigeria are still unable to cast their votes or stand for political elections at local and national elections. It has become imperative to dismantle roadblocks impeding the participation of people with disabilities, in nigerian politics.

Hindrance to political inclusion of persons with disabilities

Taking the recent nigerian general elections and other past elections into consideration, some of these barriers include but are not limited to:

1) Framework and Inability of Election Management Agencies

As part of security measures placed restrictions on vehicle movement on the day of elections. While this might have increased the chances of a safe election, it also posed a major problem to persons with disabilities who are not mobile enough, physically, to reach their polling units. Just like the case of inaccessible polling centres, several hindrances are recorded during the main elections process. for one, most poll workers are not efficiently trained on administering the vote to persons with disabilities. It is oftentimes a struggle to find agents/poll workers with the right training and patience to ensure a seamless voting process for this minority group. As a result of these factors, most persons with disabilities either sit out the election process or leave the polls without casting their votes.

2. Enervating Registration Processes

Registration processes in nigeria are never easy thing to do, this also applies to the voter’s card registration and collection process. it is not news that the less than conducive procedure has deterred several members of the voting community from participating in the elections on a general level. From long and poorly managed queues to technical issues and lack of adequate manpower, the first stage of the nigerian electoral process is difficult for voters – disabled or abled.

3. Lack of Reachable Information

Voter education, providing details on how to vote, when to vote, options available in the form of political candidates, the importance of voting as a civic duty of every nigerian, what is expected from public office holders, and the rights of voters across the board, is vital in helping the electorate make sensible decisions in their choice of leadership. However, there seems to be a lack of diversity in this educational process and the general dissemination of election information. Outside breaking information down through a variety of languages that cater to different ethnic groups, it is also important to cater to the need of persons with disabilities who aren’t able to easily access or comprehend the information being spread. This inadvertently leaves them out of the electoral process and increases political exclusion.

Moving forward, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties need to reach out to the disabled communities through the adoption of various means such as sign language, easy-to-read pictures, tactile, etc.

 In recent time, the independent national electoral commission (INEC) and other civil society, like disabled persons organisation (DPO) and inclusive friends association (IFA) are making a tremendous effort to alleviate the problem person with disabilities go through in electoral process. inec as a reform-minded institution undergirded by the overall objective of engendering an all-inclusive political process, took upon itself the task of institutionalizing the framework for a more inclusive electoral process.